Process and apparatus for the manufacture of artificial silk and like threads



1929- c. w. PALMER ET AL 1,731,317.

' I "PROCESS AND KPPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK AND LIKE THREADS Filed Jan. 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 INVENTORS 7 c. w. PALMER WM. WHITEHEAD By their ttorheysW Oct 15, 1929- c. W.'PALMER ETAL- 1,731,3 7

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK AND LIKE THREADS Filed Jan. 29, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS c. w. PALMER wm. WHITEHEAD y th eir Att neys, 21M M341:

Oct. 1929- c. w. PALMER ET AL 1,731,317 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK AND LIKE THREADS Filed Jan. 29, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w 22 N w v FIG. -5

INVENTORS C. "7'. PALMER "M. IHITEHEAD' Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES WILFRED PALMER AND WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, OF SPONDON, NEAR DERBY,

ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO CELANESE CORPORATION 01 AMERICA, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK AND LIKE THREADS Application filed January 29, 1923, Serial No. 615,682, and in Great Britain February 18, 1922.

This invention relates to new or improved process and apparatus for the manufacture of artificial silk and like threads by processes wherein solutions of cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, ethyl, methyl or benzyl cellulose or other cellulose esters, ethers or derivatives of cellulose in or containing volatile or vaporizable solvents or liquids, are extruded into the air or a gaseous atmosphere, the filaments being solidified by evaporation of the solvents or liquids after issuing from the jets or nozzles, the resulting filaments, being as ,sociated as threads, and being led or fed totwisting, and subsequently to twist the thread in a separate operation on another machine.

- The surprising discovery has now-been made that winding and twisting of the thread can be effected simply and economically as a single operation, by applying cap twisting and winding, hereinafter shortly referred to as cap spinning, to the travelling thread of associated filaments.

' Any suitable form or arrangement of cap spinning device may be employed, the travelling thread being led or fed to a point verti. cally above the spindle of the cap spinning device and thence passing under the lower edge of the cap on to the bobbin, spool, tube or the like of the cap spinning device, on which it is wound. r

The bobbin, spool, tube or the'like will be rotated at a higher speed than that at which the thread is fed to 1t, and it will be understood that the thread, passing from a point above the spindle down round-the bottom of the cap on to the bobbin or the like. will receive a twist and that the bottom of the cap, while guidlng the thread on to the bobbin or the like allows the thread to rotate about the axis of the spindle and bobbin or the like. The amount of twist imparted to the thread depends upon the difference between the speed of feed of the thread and the speed of the bobbin or winding device;

Preferably the ca and spindle are stationary while the b0 bin, spool, tube or the like is rotated at the required speed, butthe cap or the cap and spindle might rotate also. A feed roller, drawing roller, godet or any other suitable means may be employed for feeding the thread of associated filaments to the cap spinning device at the required speed. The amount of twist imparted to the thread may be varied by varying the-speed at which the threadis fed to the cap spinning device, or by varying the speed of rotation of the bobbin, spool, tube or the like of the cap spinning device, or by both means, or in any other suitable way. 7

The thread may be traversed on the bobbin,

spool, tube or the like by any known or suit- I able means, as by t-raversing the bobbin or the like vertically relatively to the cap, or by traversing the cap vertically relatively to the bobbin or the like.

The thread may be traversed in various ways by any known or suitable means so as to give a parallel wind,-spool wind, bottle bobbin wind or any other desired kind of wind.

Any desired number of the cap spinning devices may be employed in combination or association with a metier or apparatus for producing artificial threads by the dry spinning, or evaporative method, according to the number of jets or nozzles comprised therein or to the number of threads produced thereby or other requirement. i

The cap spinning devices are preferably situated outside the metier or spinning apparatus when this is of the enclosed type, but they may be situated inside if desired.

A feed roll er, drawing roller, godet or other suitable device or a row or line of such rollers or devices may serve to feed the threads to, any desired number of cap'spinning devices disposed in one or more rows or lines, or otherwise as desired. Such feed device or devices will feed the threads at a speed less than the surface speed of the bobbins or other winding members of the cap spinning devices, and preferably at a greater speed than that of the extrusion of the filaments, so that these are extended in their transit to the cap spinning devices.

In twisting and winding threads of associated filaments by means of cap spinning devices as hereinbefore referred to, the bobbins, spools, tubes or the like may be driven at any desired or suitable speeds relatively to the speed of feed of the threads to them. Usually they will be driven at much higher circumferential speeds than the speed of feedof the thread. For example the speed of the bobbins "or the like may be about 7,000 to 10,000 revolutions per minute or more. We do not of course in any way limit ourselves to this, as they may be run at lower or higher speeds, or much higher speeds, even 20,000 R. P. M. or more.

For cap twisting and winding threads of associated filaments of cellulose acetate or It is likewise of advantage to damp or i moisten the filaments or threads on their wa to the cap spinning devices. This may be etfected by any suitable means, for example by exposing the travelling filaments or threads to humidified air, or passage over a wetted roller or other damp surface ontheir way to the cap spinning devices.

When artificial silk or the like is twisted and wound in the manner hereinbefore described the thread is subject to tension. This tension can be modified in various ways, so as to be less than or greater than the elastic load of the thread, e. g. by regulating the height of the upper thread guide relatively to the lower edge of the cap, or-by suitably adapting the diameter of the cap at the base, in relation to the diameter of the bobbin barrel, tubeor the like, or by lubricating or wetting the thread, on its way to the, cap spinning devices, or by adjusting the amount of surface contact between the thread and the cap edge, or in any other suitable way.

If required the thread may be extended during twisting, by increasing the tension of winding, or by damping the thread on its way to the cap spinning devices, or. in any other desired way.

It is also to be understood that in the case threads of artificial silk or the like are spun downwards in the metier and the travelling threads of associated filaments, solidified therein by evaporation of solvent, are led out and wounrhcontinuously by mechanism outside themetier, as described and claimed in the U. S. Patent to Roy 1,602,125, October 5,

1926, the cap spinningmechanism serving simultaneously to twist and wind the threads fed from the metier.

The invention may, however, be applied to dry spinning metiers or apparatus in which the threads are spun upwards or otherwise. Also, asbefore mentioned, the cap twisting and winding devices may be situated inside or outside the metiers or machines in any desired way.

In the case of dry spinning processes in particular, the cap spinning process worked in conjunction with the extruding process, enables at least one operation to be cut out as compared with the previous method of winding the threads of associated filaments and afterwards twisting the threads in a separate operation.

The possibility of winding in special manners, such as bottle bobbin winding, in the cap spinning process is a further advantage in that rewinding of the twisted artificial silk on to bottle bobbins for knitting purposes can be avoided.

A further advantage is that the artificial silk or the like is handled much less by the cap spinning process than by the process of winding and twisting the threads of associated filaments by separate processes or operations.

It is to be understood that the invention includes both processes and apparatus wherein cap spinning is applied in combination with any processes of producing artificial silk, artificial wool, or other artificial threads or filaments from solutions of cellulose derivatives by dry spinning or evaporat ive methods.

The accompanying drawings show one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, as applied to the manufacture of artificial silk from solutions of cellulose acetate or other cellulosic derivatives by the method described in the said U. S. Patent 1,602,125, that is to say wherein the filaments are spun downwards into an evaporative atmosphere in an enclosed casing, the travelling threads of associated filaments, solidified therein by evaporation of solvent, being led out of the casing and Wound up continuously by mechanism outside the same. It is to be understood, however, that the particular form'of apparatus illus-, trated is given only by way of example and that the invention 1s in no way limited thereto, being capable of wide modification within the spirit of the invention. 7

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a portion of a spinning cabinet or metier with .the cap spinning devices appertaining there- Fig. 2 is a diagrammaticside elevation of the metier and cap spinning apparatus, with the side of the metier removed.

Fig. 3 1s a deta1l sectional elevation taken on line 3-3 Fig. 1, showing one of the cap spindles with its bobbin and bobbin carrier.

Figs. 4 and 5 are a side elevation and a plan of one of the upper thread guides.

1 indicates the enclosing casing of the spinning metier, divided up by vertical partitions 1 into any number of relatively narrow vertical compartments 1 in the upper part 0 which are located the jets 2 from the orifices of which the filaments are discharged down into a current of air admitted below and which rises round the steam pipesv 3 and baflies 3 of-an air heater3, the hot air carrying the solvent vapours evolved from the filaments passing away from the top of the casin and the threads 4 of associated filaments being led round a guide '5 and out through small orifices in front of the metier casing,

all as described in the said U. S. Patent 1,602,125. Each compartment contains only a small number of jets, two are shown, but

one might be employed in each cell or more than two in each cell. 6 indicatesone of a line of waste rollers mounted below the jets and extending across the metier and driven frictionally by a line of discs or rollers 6 as stated in the said patent, said waste rollers serving for catching and winding up the filaments or breakage or during interruption of their winding.

7 represents a line of godets or, feed rollers all fast on-a shaft 8 extending the width of the metier and mounted in bearings in brackets 9 bolted on the side frames, one of which'is seen at F Fig. 2 and on the inter mediate frames F of the cap spinning apparatus. The series of feed rollers are driven at a surface speed greater than the speed of extrusion of the filaments (so as to draw out or extend the threads), by a gear wheel 10 on the end of shaft 8, meshing with a gear wheel 11 on a countershaft mounted parallel to shaft 8 and receiving the drive by a chain 12 61) from a chain wheel 12 on the end of the shaft of the main driim 14"that drives the bob- .15, 15 indicate a row of back guide hooks carried by a horizontal bar 16 extending the width of the metier and supported by brackets 17 on the side frames F and on each of the intermediate frames F 18 is a fixed spindle rail extending the Width of the metier, and carrying the fixed spindles 19, 19 on each of which is mounteda loose cap 20. 21 is a traversing rail on which are mounted a corresponding series of bobbin carriers 22, Fig. 3, formed with driving whorls 22, tubes 22 and pro jections or shoulders 22 to engage the bobbins 23, the fixed spindles 19 passing up through the bobbin carriers and their tubes, so that the bobbins are driven by the bobbin carriers and can'be traversed up and down by the rail 21, while the spindles remain stationary.

The fixed rail 18 is supported from each intermediateframe F by an arm 24 bolted to the frame as at 24 so as to be vertically adjustable in height on a gib or guide 26 for levelling the rail 18, which is also supported at its ends by arms or supports mounted on the side frames F. A lower horizonf tal fixed guide bar 27 extending the width of the metier is similarlyadjustably mounted at each intermediate frame F on an arm 28 and onthe end frames F.

The traversing rail 21 is carried on vertical pokers 29 reciprocating through and guided in holes in the fixed rail 18 and the lower guide bar 27, and attached at bottom to the chains 30 that impart the traversing motion to the pokers, these chains being fixed to the horizontal traversing rod 31 and passing over guide pulleys 32 carried on a line of horizontal frame bars'33 (Figs. 1 and 2),

so that the traversing motion is imparted to the-pokers 29 and rail 21. The horizontal traversing rod 31 can be reciprocated by any known mechanism, not shown.

The drum 14 (or a'line of such drums) for driving the bobbin carriers extends the width of the metier, its shaft 13 being mounted in a bracket 34 in each side frame, and can be driven by any convenient means.

. In the arrangement shown, each-pair of adjacent bobbin carriers is driven by an endless strap 35 -passing round the whorls of both. Each strap 35 runs from the drum 14 forwards up round a skew jockey or tension pulley 36 situated behind the space between the two' adjacent spindles, thence back round a rear jockey or -tension pulley 37.

(Fig. 2), then forward and around the allow of being mounted in the side frames F and intermediate frames F parallel with the rod 40.

A row of thread guides 44 with eyes 44,

. shown in detail on Figs. 4 and 5, aremounted directly above the corresponding spindles on a line of horizontal bars 45 mounted on the intermediate and side frames and adjustable-in height by any suitable means. The thread guides 44 are hinged as at 46 to swung up for removal and replacing of the caps and bobbins.

47 represents a line of front waste rollers mounted with slight friction on a shaft 48 in bearings in the side and intermediatev frames and extending the width of the metier below and in front of the line of godet rollers 7, so that when a thread is broken between the godet and the bobbinon changing the bobbin or otherwise, the broken thread is caught and wound up on' the waste rollers 47 The shaft 48 of'these rollersis driven from the godet shaft 8 by a chain 49 passing round chain wheels on the shafts 8 and'48 and round a tension pulley 50.

' The threads 4 of the associated filaments led out of the metier casing as explained are passed forwards over the godet roller 7, then back under this roller at an angle up through the back guide hooks 15, thence up again over the godet roller 7 and forwards down through the eyes 44? of the threadiguides 44 and under the bot-tomof the caps 20 on to the bobbins which are rotated at a high speed,

for example 10,000 R. P. M. or more by the straps 35, the bobbins at the same time being raised and lowered by the traversing mechanism to wind the thread evenly thereon, whilst the spindles 19 and the caps 20 mounted loose thereon remainstationary.

-As the peripheral speed of the bobbin is greater than the speed at'which the thread is fed to it by the godet roller, the thread is correspondingly rotated and twisted simultaneously with the winding, the bottom of the ca guiding it on to' the revolving bobbin and mpartmg a drag to it, thus enablin it to be wound on to thebobbin. v The threa at the same time is permitted to rotate about the axis of the. spindle and bobbin, the amount of twist dependin upon the difference between the s eed o the feed of the thread and the perip eral speed of the bobbin.

When a given bobbin has been fully wound it can be stopped by the attendants hand and removed by swinging up the thread guide, taking off thecap and sliding off the spindle and a fresh bobbm can then be puton to the spindle. The amount of twist imparted to the thread can be varied by varying the speed of the godet roller or of the bobbins, or the speed. a

of both, or otherwise as desired.

The tension ef-the thread may be varied by adjusting the height of the'thread guides 44, or by employing caps of other diameter,

or damping the threads, or in any other way.

It is desirable, as before mentioned, to lubr .a e the filaments with oil or other lubricating liquid, on their way to the cap spinning devices. This can be done in any appropriate Way, for example by leading them over a pad, roller or other surface supplied or impregnated with the lubricating liquid and disposed between the metier and the "metier and the drawing roller or the" cap I spinning devices.

F urther, it will be understood that instead of bobbins one may employ tubes or any other desired winding devices for the threads, and

that any known or suitable traversing mecha-' nism may be employed according to the type of wind desired, for example a parallel wind, spool wind, bottle bobbin wind or other desired form of wind.

Also instead of traversing the bobbins or .the like while the? cap and spindle remain stationary, the spindle and cap ma be traversed up and down through the obbin or the likewhile this ,only revolves without traversing up and down.

What we claim and desif re to secure by 1 Letters Patent is 1. A process for the continuous production from; solutions of cellulose acetate or other substitution derivative of cellulose, of "pack-. ages of twisted artificial threads wound on winding members, comprising formin continuous filaments by extrusion of the so ution into a gaseous atmosphere, solidifying the filaments by evaporation of the solvent in said gaseous atmosphere, associating the filaments, leading the associated filaments towards the winding member from a point substantially in alinement with the axis'of the winding member, deflecting the associated filaments inwards on to the windin member over an .annular surface coaxial t erewith,

and rotating the winding member at a higher surface speed than the linear speed of travel of the filaments, thereby twisting the associated filaments and winding them as a twisted thread on' to the winding member.

'2. A process for the continuous production from solutions of cellulose acetate or other substitution derivative of cellulose, of packages of twisted artificial threads wound on winding members, comprising forming continuous filaments by extrusion of the solution into a secluded gaseous atmosphere, solidify ing the filaments by evaporation of the solvent in saidsecluded gaseous atmosphere, leading the filaments out ofthe secluded gaseous atmosphere in association, leading the associated filaments towards the windmg member from a point substantially in alinement with the axis of the winding member, deflecting member at a higher terized in that terized in that the filaments are treated with a humidifying agency before they are subj ected to the twisting and winding operation. 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the filaments are formed by extruding the solution downwards into an upwardly flowing gaseous atmosphere.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the filaments are led to the winding member at a greater linear speed than that of extrusion, so that they are extended before they are twisted and wound.

7. Apparatus for the manufacture of artificial threads from solutions of cellulose acetate or other substitution derivatives ofcellulose, comprising, in comblnatlon, gets,

through which the solution is extruded .to form filaments, means for solidifying the filaments by evaporation of the solvent in 'a gaseous atmosphere, means for associating the filaments into threads, and cap spinning devices for simultaneously twisting and winding the threads.

8, Apparatus for the manufacture of artificial threads ,from solutions of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivatives by the evaporative method, comprising in combina tion an mclosed metier casing, means in association .with the same for maintaining a flow of air therethrough, jets disposed in the casing for extruding the solution as filaments therein, cap spinning devices located outside the metier casing, means permitting of conveying the filaments, in association for threads, out of the casing to points above the cap spinning devices and thence to the cap spinning devices and means for driving the winding members of the cap spinning devices at a higher circumferential speed than the speed of.trav-'e1 of the associated filaments thereto, whereby the associated filaments are simultaneously twisted and wound as produced, the caps guiding them to the winding devices while permitting them to rotate about the axes.

.9. Apparatus for the manufacture of artificial threads from solutions of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivatives by the evaporative method, comprising in combination jets whereby the solution is extruded to'form filaments, means for solidifying the filaments by evaporation of the solvent in-a gaseous atmosphere, cap spinning devices to which the filamcntsare conveyed in association for threads, means for conveying the associated filaments to said cap spinning devices, the winding members of the cap spinning devices being adapted for driving at a circumferential speed greater than the speed of travel of the associated filaments thereto, and means for lubricating the filaments in their travel to thecap spinning devices.

10. Apparatus for the manufacture of artificial threads from solutions of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivatives by the evaporative method, comprising in combination jets whereby the solution is extruded to form filaments, means for solidifying the filaments by" evaporation of the solvent in a gaseous atmosphere, cap spinning devices to which the filaments are conveyed in association for threads, means for conveying the associated filaments to said cap spinning devices, the winding members of the cap spinning devces being adapted for driving at a circumferential speed greater than the speed of travel of the associated filaments thereto, and means for humidifying the filamentsin their travel to the cap spinning devices.

11. Apparatus for the manufacture of artificial threads from solutions of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivatives by the evaporative method, comprising in combination an enclosed metier casing, means for maintaining an upward flow of air therethrough, jets situated in the upper part of said casing and arranged to discharge the filaments downwards into the upwardly flowing air, cap spinning devices located outside the metier casing, means permitting of conveying the filaments, in association for threads, out of the-casing to points above the cap spinning devices and thence to the cap-spinning devices, and means for driving the winding members of the cap spinning devices at a higher circumferential speed than the speed of travel of the associated filamentsthereto whereby the associated evaporatively{produced filaments are simultaneously twisted and wound as produced. 12., Apparatus for the manufacture of artifi'cial threads from solutions of cellulose acetate or other cellulosederivatives by the evaporative method, comprising in combination an enclosed metiencasing, means for maintaining an upward flow of air therethrough, jets situated in the upper part of said casing and arranged to discharge the filaments downwards therein, cap-spmning devices located outside the metier casing, means for leading the evaporatively produced filaments, in association for threads,'out of tical axes of the caps, and a line of back thread filaments being twisted into thread by the rotation of the winding deviceand the thread being wound on to the winding devlce by the drag imparted to it, during its passage over the edge of the ca I In testimony w ereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

CHARLES WILFRED PALMER. WILLIAM WHITEHEAD.

tion an enclosed metier casing, means for maintaining an upward flow of airtherethrough, jets situated in the upper part of said casing and arranged to discharge the filaments downward therein, cap spinning devices located outside the metier casing, means for leading the evaporatively produced filaments, in association for threads, out of said casing, a driven drawingv and feedingroller for feeding the threads of associated filaments to the cap spinning devices, a line'of front guides for the threads, located over the verguides mounted behind said feed roller, substantially as described. I

14. 'A process for the continuous production from solutions of cellulose acetate or other substitution derivative of cellulose, of packages of twisted artificial threads wound on winding members, comprising forming.

continuous filaments by extrusion of the solution into a gaseous atmosphere, solidifying the filaments by evaporation of the solvent in said gaseous atmosphere, associating the filaments, leadingthe associated filaments. to the winding member from a point substantially in alinement with the axis of the winding member, rotating the winding member at a higher surface speed than the linear speed of travel of the filaments to twist the associated filaments into thread, and continuously imparting a drag to the thread at points constituting a circle in a plane at right angles to the axis of the spindle to wind the twisted thread on to the winding member.

15. Apparatus for the continuous produc-' tion from solutions of cellulose acetate or other substitution derivative'of cellulose, of

packages of twisted artificial threads wound on winding members, comprising, in combination, jets through which the solution is extruded to form filaments, means for solidifying the filament by evaporation of the solvent in a gaseous atmosphere, means for associating the filaments, a spindle, a cap mounted on the spindle and having a smooth edge, a thread guide substantially in alinement with the said spindle, a winding device rotatably mounted on said spindle, and means for driving said winding device at a combined twisting and winding speed, the arrangement being such that the associated filaments pass down ward from the thread guide and inwards over the edge of the cap to the winding device, the 

